This chart will help first-year students get started in planning for possible admission to health professions graduate programs. These courses represent    This chart will help first-year students get started in planning for possible admission to health professions graduate programs. These courses represent   
the minimal requirements, and most schools (especially medical schools) have additional course requirements.  Students should check the admissions  the minimal requirements, and most schools (especially medical schools) have additional course requirements.  Students should check the admissions 
standards for individual schools. Specific advising related to entrance to health professions schools is also available in the Eberly College of Science standards for individual schools. Specific advising related to entrance to health professions schools is also available in the Eberly College of Science
Advising Center, 213 Whitmore Building. Students considering any of these programs should work closely with their academic adviser regarding their Advising Center, 213 Whitmore Building. Students considering any of these programs should work closely with their academic adviser regarding their
interests and choice of Penn State major. interests and choice of Penn State major.
Professional School Medicine Chiropractic,   Dentistry Physical   Physician   Nursing** Occupational Professional School Genetic   Veterinary    Pharmacy  
Penn State Courses  (MD/DO) Optometry, Podiatry   Therapy Assistant   Therapy Penn State Courses Counseling Medicine       
Web Sites www.ama-assn.org www.chirocolleges.com www.ada.org www.APTA.org www.aapa.org www.aacn.nche.  www.aota.org Web Sites www.nsgc.org www.aavmc.org        www.aacp.org
  www.acsm.org www.aaopt.org       edu/Media/            
     www.aacpm.org       FactSheets/              
B M B 211/212 or 401/402 * *Optometry B M B 211 preferred # * * *   B M B 211/212 or 401/402 * 1 or 2 semesters required        Varies by program
BIOL 110 Required Required Required Required Required * Required BIOL 110 Required Required   Required  
BIOL 129, 141/142 *  * Optometry varies    * Required Required Required Required BIOL 129, 141/142 Recommended Higher level ANAT and PHYS desired        Varies by program
BIOL 230W or 240W Required (C) Often required   Required (D) Varies by program Varies by program   * * BIOL 230W or 240W 230W required 230W or 240W     Required  
CHEM 110, 111, 112, 113 Required Required Required Required Required Varies by program Varies by program CHEM 110, 111, 112, 113 Required Required   Required  
CHEM 202 and 203 or 210, 212, 213 required (8 credits) Required    or 210, 212, 213 required (8 credits) Varies by program Varies by program  * * CHEM 202 and 203 Required 5-8 credits required     CHEM 210, 212, 213
 (6 credits) Check for required credits     (6 credits)        
MICRB 106/107 or 201/202 * *Optometry MICRB 201/202 preferred # *    Often required   Required * MICRB 106/107 or 201/202 * 201/202 recommended        Varies by program
MATH 022 or higher required (A)  022 or higher required *Optometry MATH 140 typically required     022 or higher required (A) 021 or higher required 021 or higher required   022 or higher required    Varies by program MATH 022 or higher required Varies by program         Typically requires
                        Calculus  
PHYS 250/250P and 251/251P Required (B) Required (B) Required (B) Required (B) * *   PHYS 250/250P and 251/251P * Required    Required  
PSYCH 100 Varies by program Varies by program Varies by program Required Required Required Required PSYCH 100 Required *        Varies by program
PSYCH 212 * * * or 270 or 470 Required Varies by program or HD FS 129 required Required PSYCH 212 Required *   *  
PSYCH 270 or 470 * * * or 212 required *   * Required PSYCH 270 or 470 Recommended *   *  
STAT 200 or 250 Varies by program Varies by program Varies by program Required Required Required Required STAT 200 Recommended Varies by program         Varies by program
                    STAT 250 recommended      
* Typically not required. * Typically not required.
** BS in Nursing is a second degree. Some schools also require nutrition and genetics (e.g., NUTR 251, BIOL 222). ** BS in Nursing is a second degree. Some schools also require nutrition and genetics (e.g., NUTR 251, BIOL 222).
# Typically recommended by not typically required. # Typically recommended by not typically required.
(A) Some medical schools require Calculus. For adequate preparation for Calculus, students applying to schools requiring Calculus will need MATH 022, MATH 026; or MATH 040; or MATH 041 (A) Some medical schools require Calculus. For adequate preparation for Calculus, students applying to schools requiring Calculus will need MATH 022, MATH 026; or MATH 040; or MATH 041
or satisfactory performance on the Mathematics proficiency examination as prerequisites. or satisfactory performance on the Mathematics proficiency examination as prerequisites.
(B) For adequate preparation for PHYS 250, students will need the following prerequisites: MATH 022, MATH 026; or MATH 040; or MATH 041 or satisfactory performance on the Mathematics   (B) For adequate preparation for PHYS 250, students will need the following prerequisites: MATH 022, MATH 026; or MATH 040; or MATH 041 or satisfactory performance on the Mathematics  
proficiency examination. Note - some medical schools require PHYS 211 and 212; check the entrance requirements for schools you are considering. proficiency examination.
(C) BIOL 110 and 230W are recommended to help students prepare for the required MCAT examination. (C) BIOL 110 and 230W are recommended to help students prepare for the required MCAT examination.
(D) BIOL 110 and 230W are recommended to help students prepare for the required DAT examination. (D) BIOL 110 and 230W are recommended to help students prepare for the required DAT examination.
Updated 6/26/2007 Updated 6/26/2007